Trader Joe's Platinum Reserve Cabernet Franc 2023
Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Cabernet Franc
Lot #120
GRAPES: Cabernet Franc
VINTAGE: 2023
REGION: Paso Robles, California
ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE: 14.2%
PRICE: $14.99
Cheers to the New Year, fellow wine lovers! I hope you all had the chance to catch up with family and friends over the holidays. For me, I’ve found that the last two weeks of the year really can be a crapshoot. I’m running around Nashville like a crazy person trying to finish all of the last-minute errands, not to mention I am trying to find a time to catch up with my friends and celebrate with them. At the end of the day, I’m usually scratching my head because I have no idea what day of the week it is, and honestly, anything goes. Wearing pajamas all day? Sure thing. Fondue for breakfast? Why not. There really are no rules.
Regardless of how you spent your time, I hope you had the opportunity to enjoy some great bottles of wine and raise a glass to those who are in your heart. Today, we will sample another Platinum Reserve bottle I picked up from Trader Joe’s right before Christmas. It didn’t make the final “holiday cut,” but I wanted to give it a try.
Get your glasses out because we are going to taste the Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Cabernet Franc from Paso Robles, California. If you’ve been following Blonde Voyage Nashville for any length of time, you know I love a Cabernet Franc, and it’s not often that I find them at Trader Joe’s, at least in Nashville. However, this is the second Cab Franc I’ve found, and it was worth a taste test.
Without further ado, let’s jump into the tasting details, shall we?
Tasting Notes:
Medium ruby hue
Vibrant, dark red fruit - raspberries, dark cherry
Savory undertones of spice and toasted oak
Full-bodied wine with medium tannins and acidity that falls on the higher end of the spectrum
Verdict:
Admittedly, I was excited to sample a bottle of Cabernet Franc from Paso Robles. Paso Robles' climate, with warm days and cool nights influenced by the Pacific Ocean, provides ideal conditions for Cabernet Franc to thrive. For the sake of transparency, I enjoyed this bottle over the span of two evenings. The first night I found my first glass to be a bit offputting. I found it to be bitter and quite acidic. I thought I was having an off night, so I had a glass the following evening, hoping it would mellow out a bit, and it was still the same. While I’ve enjoyed my fair share a Cabernet Franc without food, perhaps pairing it with grilled meats like lamb or pork would accentuate the flavors. Maybe even a nice oven-roasted rosemary chicken- who am I kidding, now I am just hungry!
For the price point, there are better wines at Trader Joe’s. This won’t be a bottle I am rushing back to purchase. However, if you’ve tried it and had a different experience, drop it in the comments below. That’s the great thing about wine; people can interpret it differently.
Until Next Time!